CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here's the thing to remember about NFL free agency: Seldom do great players reach the open market during their prime seasons.

Browns fans need to remember that. Free agency won't fix this team in 2014. It can help, but seldom do long-term impact players appear on the market.

Who was the biggest name free agent in the 2013? Quarterback Joe Flacco. He re-signed with Baltimore. CBS Sports ranked the top 10 free agents at the end of the 2012 season. Six remained with their own teams, either by signing a new deal or being "franchised" for another season.

The top two players changing teams were defensive ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. Both signed with Seattle. Both are 4-3 defensive ends -- the Browns play a 3-4. Both have played well. Avril has 7.5 sacks, Bennett has 6.5.

The third player of the top 10 to change teams was Elvis Dumervil, who went to Baltimore. He has 9.5 sacks.

Kruger has been a disappointment with only 2.5 sacks. He has rated above average against the run in some of complex rating systems that I checked, but Kruger was signed to pressure the passer. He is below average in that department for an 3-4 outside linebacker.

It's rather subjective, but Profootballfocus.com rates Kruger No. 6 against the run, but No. 31 in rushing the passer.

Does that make Kruger a mistake? Not really, because he is a viable NFL starter. He's been OK, but you wish for more than that.

The NFL free agent market tends to be thin on talent, and outrageously expensive. He is a reminder that you can find decent starters (and over-pay them) in free agency.

Big contracts, little production

Davone Bess has been a disappointment with only 40 catches compared to eight dropped passes.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

The most notable free agent receiver was Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace, who signed a five-year, $60 million deal ($30 million guaranteed) with Miami.

The result? Wallace has 56 catches for three touchdowns and a 13.3 average.

Nothing very special.

The next top receiver was Greg Jennings, who signed a $45 million deal ($18 million guaranteed) with Minnesota. He has 43 catches, three touchdowns and a 12.0 average.

Wes Welker was a free agent, but at this point of his career, he wanted to play for Denver and Peyton Manning, He has 68 catches.

While Davone Bess was not a free agent, he was one year away from free agency when the Browns traded for him. They gave him a four-year deal for $14 million ($5.75 million guaranteed). Bess has 40 catches, two touchdowns and an 8.6 average. He also is tied for second for dropped pass with eight. Like Wallace and Jennings, Bess has been a disappointment.

At least, he isn't as expensive as the other two free agent receivers.

Yes, you end up making lame comments like that after looking over free agency once the frenzy ends and the games begin.

About Desmond Bryant

Desmond Bryant has been a solid starter at defensive end.John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

He had 3.5 sacks before going on the reserve list Wednesday with an irregular heartbeat. Two weeks ago, the Browns had a list of what they called "quarterback harassments." Bryant led the team with 26, followed by Kruger with 13 and Phil Taylor with nine. Among 3-4 defensive ends, Profootballfocus ranked Bryant No. 20 against the run, No. 9 against the pass.

In other words, he was above average. But now, he is out with an irregular heartbeat -- something he has had before. So that becomes a question mark hanging over him.

Look over some of the other 2013 free agents. The top-rated running back was Stephen Jackson. He signed with Atlanta, has battled hamstring issues and has only 335 yards rushing.

The free-agent quarterback list was depressing: Kevin Kolb, Tim Tebow, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel, Matt Moore, Brian Hoyer and Jason Campbell were the most notable names. Only Hoyer would seem to have any chance of being a starter in 2014.

It's the draft

The Browns have about $24 million remaining on the salary cap -- the most in the NFL. And yes, they will sign some free agents. They should re-sign Alex Mack. There are other players who should receive extensions.

But the key positions must be filled in the draft -- especially quarterback and running back. Very few good quarterbacks reach free agency, because teams want to keep them. Most free agent running backs are danger zones because they have taken major physical beatings in their early years in the league.

The success of the Browns will rely on the judgment of CEO Joe Banner and General Manager Mike Lombardi, especially when it comes to the draft.

Lombardi worked with New England Coach Bill Belichick in Cleveland in the early 1990s. At his press conference Wednesday, Belichick evaluated Lombardi this way: "He’s thorough, he’s smart, he’s thorough, he understands football. He understands not just personnel but schemes and how certain players fit into certain schemes better than others because of the responsibilities in those schemes; the type of plays or the type of system that coaches run, different coaches run. … Mike is a hard-working guy that won’t leave a stone unturned. He’ll find players."

Fans have to hope that Belichick is right about Lombardi, because he is the key guy in building the franchise.

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